Written for VicesVsVirtues for the Timeless Fic Exchange over on AO3
1954
"Ok, you guys go ahead, get Jiya back. I have to stay here." Lucy can't bring herself to look at Wyatt as she tells them the beginnings of her plan. She knows how he'll react. She doesn't blame him, her reaction would be the same; if their roles were reversed and he was telling her he had to stay in the past, with the man that had spent the last year trying to kill them, being his only hope of returning to their own time. But this is the way it has to be. She has to be the one to stay here and convince Ethan. He's her grandfather, this is her responsibility.
"What are you talking about? What do you mean?" Wyatt's words are desperate. For answers, for her to tell him that she doesn't mean what she just said. That she isn't staying here. That she's going back with them.
"I'll go with Flynn in the mothership." She casts a glance over her shoulder at the man they've been chasing through time. He nods once, he'll take her home. "I need Ethan to see this thing in action."
Wyatt quickly becomes unsettled. There's no way in hell he's going to trust Flynn, of all people, to bring her home. "Lucy, no. No way."
He searches her eyes, pleading with her. She doesn't budge. He chances a glance at Flynn, hoping to see something that shows him he can trust the other man with this. He sees nothing. Wyatt takes a breath, before stepping closer to her. "Look, we already lost you once. I cannot lose you again."
There's something in his eyes that she's been denying for so long. How can she possibly let him look at her like that - let him feel that way about her - when there is a very real possibility of his wife being brought back. He's tried and failed so many times, but it could still be possible… right?
She hates to do this to him, but she has to use this to her advantage. "You've trusted me this long. I just need you to do it a little longer, okay? Get Jiya back."
He doesn't want to trust Flynn, but she's asking him to - in a way. And he can't deny her anything. He turns to Flynn, hoping he looks menacing, but knowing he looks anything but. "If you hurt her…"
"What? You'll try and kill me again?" Flynn is clearly amused.
Rufus leans in and warns her to "Be careful." She nods at him slightly.
She whispers a small "Okay." in return, before turning back to Wyatt. What exactly is she supposed to say to him? How can she possibly reassure him that everything is going to work out in their favour, when it very rarely does? All she can tell him is that "It'll be okay." and hope it's enough.
Wyatt looks at her in disbelief. Is she really going to make him do this? Make him walk away and leave her here in 1954, with the man that has done nothing but hurt them since they met him. His heart breaks as he turns his back on her and begins to make his way to the Lifeboat. He's halfway there when he stops in his tracks, unable to make himself take the last few steps.
There's a determination in him as he turns back to her. She watches him, watches as he wars with himself. Over what, she's not quite sure. Lucy sends him a small smile and a slight wave, hoping it's enough to reassure him. It isn't. He marches back over to her, crowding into her space. Taking her face in his hands, he smiles down at her, one of his thumbs stroking back and forth across her cheek. What is this? What is he doing? "Wyatt-"
He captures her his lips with his, swallowing whatever comfort she was about to lay upon him. Her eyes grow wide for a second, this is the last thing she expected him to do. It's a feather light brushing of lips, but it's enough to leave her wanting more. And more and more. She chases his lips as he pulls back, bringing his forehead down to rest against her own.
"Come back to me." His words whisper across her lips.
She barely manages to nod her head in return, too busy soaking up everything that is simply… him. The warmth of his hands, still stroking across her cheeks. His breath, fanning across her lips. The black pepper and ginseng scent, that she guesses is his shower gel or aftershave.
NOW
It's close to midnight when Lucy finally decides to call it a night. Amy had done so an hour ago, and in hindsight, Lucy should have done the same. She takes her time ensuring all the curtains are drawn, all the windows and doors are locked up tight, and all the dishes they'd used are by the sink ready to be washed in the morning. Her sister had attempted to persuade her to go out tonight, to celebrate the end of her mystery project with Mason Industries. But Lucy had enough excitement to last her several lifetimes. She'd told her sister that all she needed to celebrate was her company and a bottle of wine. What she needed right now though, was to collapse into bed and not emerge until sometime tomorrow afternoon.
It seems the person on the other end of her ringing phone has other ideas, however.
Lucy sighs and drops her head forward. She pulls her phone from the back pocket of her jeans, her frown turning upside down at the name flashing across the screen. She accepts the call and brings the phone to her ear. "Wyatt? What's wrong? I thought it was all over?"
"I uh… I said I'd call you if I ever needed a bossy, know-it-all. I just didn't expect to need one so soon." There's something in his voice that she can't quite put her finger on. He somehow sounds both different and exactly the same as he normally does.
She smirks at the nickname he'd given her just hours ago. "And what do you need one for?"
"I was wondering if you knew what would happen if I drunk a whole bottle of wine to myself in one night?" She's heard this tone in his voice before, just never directed at her. He can't be… can he?
"I don't think that's such a good idea. You would get very drunk, and very ill. I'd hate to say 'I told you so' in the morning." She wouldn't hate it at all. She would, in fact, enjoy it very much.
He sounds like he plans to do anything but listen to her. "Oh, well we can't have that. Can we?"
"No, we can't." All she wanted to do, is go to bed… So why is she now flirting with him? Encouraging him?
"So, what do you suggest I do?" He's flirting right back at her.
"I don't know. You could… share it with someone else, I suppose?" With me! Share it with me! She wants to scream it from the top of her lungs. She wants him to come to her house and share a bottle of wine with him. She wants to sit with him on this sofa, spend time with him and not talk about time travel or Rittenhouse.
"Share it?" She can't see him, but somehow she knows he's nodding thoughtfully. "I could do that. You know anyone who likes wine?"
She takes a beat before answering. "Amy does for sure, but she's in bed right now."
"Oh that's a shame. It would have been nice to finally meet this sister of yours." Wyatt takes a beat of his own, pretending to think of someone else he could share the bottle with. He knows exactly who he wants to share it with. "How about you? Do you like wine?"
She hums, thoughtfully. He already knows the answer to his question. "I probably shouldn't, but I could drink another glass or two."
"Oh, that's good. That's very good." From her place sat at the bottom of the stairs, his voice sounds like it's coming from two places at once.
"Yeah, that is-" She snaps her head up when she hears four sharp knocks on the front door. Who the hell is knocking on my door at this time of night? "Hang on, there's someone at the door."
With her phone still held to her ear, she stands and pads silently over to the front door. Unlocking it, she pulls it open slightly and peers out of the small gap to see Wyatt stood on her porch. He has a bottle of wine in one hand, and his other hand holding his phone to his ear, mirroring her position. They take a beat before hanging up the call, Wyatt slips his phone into his back pocket, while Lucy keeps hers clutched in her hand.
A wide smile blossoms on her face at the sight of him. This is the last thing she had expected, but she can't say it's an unpleasant surprise. "What are-" She releases a breath and shakes her head.
"You said I should share it right?" He holds up the bottle for her to see - her favourite. Of course it is.
"I suppose I did." She stands back and holds the door open for him.
EARLIER
He paces back and forth in the warehouse he and Rufus are currently stood in, checking his phone for the time… again.
"Relax, man. They'll be here." Rufus shakes his head at his friend. The only other time he'd seen the other man so restless, was when Flynn had taken Lucy hostage in 1780. Only this time Flynn hadn't captured her, she'd willingly stayed with him in the past. He imagines Wyatt feels exactly the same now, as he did then, though.
Wyatt stops and turns to glare at the pilot. "How can you know that? How can you know that Flynn wasn't playing us this whole time? That he's not going to leave her stranded there. He's done it before." He bites out.
Rufus throws his hands up in surrender. "Hey, don't bite my head off. I didn't want her to stay with him any more than you did."
"I'm sorry, I'm just…" He sighs and shakes his head. How can he possibly put into words how he's feeling right now?
"In love with Lucy, I know." He says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world, like it's the reason the word 'fact' was even coined. It's obvious to everyone but the two in question.
Wyatt snaps his head up at his friend. How does he know?
Rufus sends him a look that he can't quite decipher. "I got eyes, you sly dog."
"Why did I bring you along?" To say Wyatt was exasperated right now would be an understatement.
"Because Jiya told you to, because I was annoying her in the hospital…" Rufus trails off as the mothership pops back into the present.
The two wait with bated breath as they watch the ship for signs of movement, Wyatt's irritation only growing the longer it takes for the door to slide open. When it finally does, he doesn't hesitate in moving forward to help Lucy down to the ground. He holds his hand out to her, which she takes a firm hold of as she steps down onto the ring of the ship.
Rufus watches from afar, a knowing smirk plastered firmly on his face. He watches Wyatt slip an arm around Lucy's waist and lift her down the rest of the way. He watches Wyatt pull her into his arms and bury his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in. He turns away when his friend pulls back and captures Lucy's lips.
It's Flynn clearing his throat as he steps down from the mothership, that pulls them apart. "You better hope this works."
With her arms still wrapped around Wyatt, reluctant to let go, Lucy turns to him and nods reassuringly. "It will."
Flynn scoffs. "I won't hold my breath."
Wyatt rolls his eyes and the other man. What he wouldn't give to shoot him right now… though he doubts Lucy would approve of that. He grips her waist tighter, causing her to turn back to him, a wide smile fixed to her face. "Come on, let's go find Ethan and see what he has for us."
NOW
Wyatt sits on the sofa rubbing his hands together, not quite sure what to do with himself, while Lucy stands at the kitchen counter and uncorks the wine. She pours a generous amount into two glasses and brings them both over to where Wyatt waits for her. "Here."
The soldier smiles up at her, as she hands him his glass. "Thanks."
She settles on the sofa beside him, curling her legs up underneath her. "So… What brings you here at this hour?"
"I don't know…" He shrugs. He sighs. "I just… I keep expecting my phone to ring, telling me we have another mission."
Lucy takes a sip from her glass. "So do I."
Wyatt leans forward and puts his untouched glass down on the coffee table in front of them. He turns to her and takes her free hand in his, rubbing his thumb back and forth across the back of her hand. "I miss you."
It's been a week since their time working together had come to an end. And in that time he came to realise just how much he relied upon Lucy and Rufus. Lucy sprouting all her history knowledge in one ear, Rufus panicking in the other. They kept him sane, grounded, more than any of the guys he'd served with before. He'd only been back at Pendleton a few days, and he'd already been offered places on several upcoming missions. He'd said no to all of them. It's just not what he wanted anymore.
Lucy smiles softly at him, not quite sure how to put into words just how much she's missed him in return.
Before she can get the words out, Wyatt leans forward and crashes his lips to hers. All he gets is a quick and sloppy meeting of lips, before she's squeaking in surprise and pulling away from him, all too aware of the rather full glass of red wine she's still holding. He takes her pulling away as rejection and begins apologising profusely. "I'm so sorry. I- I don't know what came over me. I just- I'm sorry."
Placing her glass down next to his on the coffee table, Lucy turns to him and takes his face in her hands. She runs one hand up to run through his hair, and brings the other down to stroke along his jaw, all the while smiling at the confused expression that's crept onto his face. She doesn't give him the chance to respond as she mirrors his actions, and slams her lips onto his. It's his turn to squeak in surprise. She smiles into the kiss at the sound - one she never thought she'd hear from him. His tongue probes at her lips, begging for entrance. She lets him sweat for a few more seconds, before finally caving in and opening her mouth to him.
Another squeak is heard, but neither are sure from who this time. Not until it's followed by a rather high pitched: "Oh my god! Sorry, sorry!" from the other side of the room. The two part, breathless, their lips red, and swollen. They turn to see Amy stood in the door way, frozen in place. Her eyes are blown wide, shocked but clearly excited at the sight of her sister kissing someone in their living room.
"Amy… I-" Lucy is lost for words. How am I supposed to explain this to my sister? 'Hey sis, you know Wyatt, right? The other me must have introduced you at some point. Well, he dropped by just as I was coming up to bed, and now I'm making out with him in our living room.'
Amy's smile widens - if that's even possible - as she holds her hand up to stop her sister talking her way out of this. "Nope, save it. This is the first guy you've actually liked since before mom passed, you are not talking your way out of this."
Lucy opens and closes her mouth several times, attempting to find the words to do exactly what her sister has just told her not to. Amy watches her sister in amusement, never before has she seen her so speechless and flustered over a guy. "I'm going to grab a bottle of water and leave you two love birds to it."
Amy turns to the fridge and grabs a bottle from one of the shelves in the door. She turns back to the pair still gaping at her as she reaches the doorway back into the hall. "We'll talk over breakfast."
Lucy watches her sister disappear down the hallway and listens as she ascends the stairs and retreats back to her bedroom. She stays silent and starring until she's sure her sister is tucked back into bed.
"So, that was Amy, huh?" All Lucy can do in return is nod. Wyatt laughs at the deer-caught-in-headlights look still firmly on her face. "Relax, Luce. She didn't scare me off."
Lucy reaches forward to grab her glass of wine from the coffee table. "Not yet." She mumbles as she takes a mouthful.
"Not ever." He replies with confidence, no longer bothering to hide the love in his eyes.
EARLIER
"Mom? You home?" Lucy calls as she walks through the house. Butterflies flutter in her stomach at just the thought of what she's about to tell her. How do you even begin to tell someone about time travel and about what I've been doing for the past year?
"Ugh, god! Please don't call me 'mom'!" Lucy stops in her tracks as the voice reaches her.
It can't be. Lucy turns to her right to see Amy pulling a bottle of wine from the fridge. "Amy?"
"That's my name, don't wear it out." Amy turns and pulls two glasses from the cupboard. "You want a glass?"
Lucy is speechless as she watches her sister move about the kitchen, pouring them both a glass of wine, before moving over to the couch. "Are you- Are you real? Are you really here?"
"What are you talking about? Of course I'm real." Amy turns and frowns at her sister. She lets her eyes rove over her. "Are you okay?"
Lucy shakes her head, as if physically shaking it will clear the thoughts and theories buzzing around in her brain. "I… Yeah, I'm fine. I've just had a long day."
"When'd you and lover boy end up this time?" Amy smirks at her, as she follows her sister over to the sofa and sits beside her, still trying to wrap her brain around… everything.
Amy's words grab her attention. When? Does she know? "Wait, you know? About…"
"What? Time travel? Of course. I pulled it out of you as soon you got home after that first mission. NDA be damned, remember?" Amy's eyes widen slightly, a sudden thought coming to her. "Unless… something happened, didn't it? Something changed."
Lucy's sigh and slight nod of her head is the last thing Amy wanted to see. "Yeah, it did."
Amy hands her sister one of the glasses and settles into the cushions. "Story time. Tell me."
NOW
Lucy nuzzles closer to Wyatt, her face buried in his neck, and her body pressed as close to his as she can get it. Wyatt has one arm hanging off the edge of the sofa, while the other traces indiscernible patterns across her back. She hums softly at the feeling. "Don't stop."
"I should." Lucy uses her arms around him, to tighten her hold on him, holding him in place. She groans out a protest. "It's late, I should let you get to bed."
She mumbles something into his neck, but all he catches is 'my bed'.
He's pretty sure she's well on her way to falling asleep against him right here. "Ok, come on, up you get. I'm taking you to bed."
"Date first, then bed." She doesn't even bother to open her eyes this time, only settles further into his arms, as he sits up and scoops her up bridal style.
"It's 2am. We're not going on a date right now. We'll go out tomorrow night." He's not surprised when she doesn't respond. "Or tonight, now I suppose."
It's not how Wyatt imagined asking her out on a date. He's not even sure if it was technically him that asked. She mentioned a date first, so does that make it her that asked him out? He shakes his head, he's too tired for this.
When he reaches the top of the stairs, he's faced with several closed doors and no idea which one leads to her bedroom. He looks down at her and smiles. "A little help would be nice." There's no way he'll wake her though.
"Second door on your left." A voice echoes from behind a door further down the hall.
"Thanks Amy." He replies as she emerges from her room.
"You staying?" She leans against the doorway and smirks at them.
He nods down to the vice-like grip Lucy has on his shirt. "I don't think she's giving me another choice."
A look briefly passes across Amy's face. One he can't quite decipher, nor can he decide if it's a good thing or a bad thing. Does she approve of him? Of them? Should he be worried about her coming in and killing him while he sleeps? She wouldn't do that her sister though… would she? He eyes her suspiciously as she slips back into her room and closes the door behind her.
Wyatt stands at Lucy's door trying to figure how to open it without waking her, when she stirs in his arms. "Wyatt?"
"Hey, sleepy head. Care to give me hand? Mine are a little full." He teases her, squeezing her waist and thigh slightly where his hands rest.
She reaches out and turns the handle on her door before nestling back into his arms. "I thought I told you take me on a date before taking me to bed?"
"You did, but you fell asleep when I told you I'm taking you out tomorrow night… or tonight now, I guess." He feels her nod against him, before he drops her down onto the bed. He pulls the covers up to her chin and drops a kiss to her forehead. "Get some sleep. I'll pick you up at 7."
She grabs his wrist as he turns to leave. "Stay."